ACL tear sidelines Eagles’ Wentz
Seahawks players avoid suspensions
PHILADELPHIA — Carson Wentz got the Eagles this far. Now, it’s up to Nick Foles to deliver Philadelphia its first Super Bowl title.
Wentz has a torn left ACL and will miss the rest of the season and playoffs, forcing the NFC East champions to turn to a familiar backup who once had one of the greatest statistical seasons in NFL history.
“The reason we got Nick Foles is for situations like this. I’m excited for Nick,” coach Doug Pederson said Monday. “I hate it for Carson Wentz. I hate it for the season that he’s been having. But at the same time, it’s been the next-man-up mentality and that’s how we approach it.”
Wentz was a favorite in the NFL MVP race during a breakout sophomore season. He threw for 3,296 yards and set a franchise single-season record with an NFL-leading 33 touchdown passes while only tossing seven interceptions.
“From my standpoint, you don’t waver, man. You don’t let people see you sweat,” Pederson said. “You just put your head down and you just go to work. You get everybody ready to play. It was evident when Carson was out of the game, you saw Nick come in and come back and lead us to victory in that game. So that right there is a great step in the right direction.”
Wentz got hurt diving into the end zone on a scramble late in the third quarter Sunday at Los Angeles. Pederson said it appeared Wentz tore his anterior cruciate ligament before contact with two tacklers. The touchdown was nullified by a penalty, but Wentz stayed in the game and tossed a TD pass to Alshon Jeffery four plays later.
Foles replaced him on the next series after the Rams took the lead and rallied the Eagles (11-2) to a 43-35 win that secured the division title and put them in first place in the conference with three games remaining.
The Eagles have overcome several key injuries and now have to move forward without their most indispensable player. Nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, return specialist/ running back Darren Sproles, star linebacker Jordan Hicks and special teams captain Chris Maragos already went down for the season.
A third-round pick by former Eagles coach Andy Reid in 2012, Foles in his second stint in Philadelphia. He is 20-17 as a starter, including playoffs. Kelly traded Foles to St. Louis for Sam Bradford after the 2014 season. Foles spent a year with the Rams, then a season in Kansas City with Pederson as offensive coordinator, before returning to Philadelphia as a free agent this season. SEAHAWKS: The Seattle Seahawks will not face any suspensions for the melee that broke out at the conclusion of Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville.
The league is still reviewing the fracas that broke out in the closing moments of Jacksonville’s 30-24 victory for potential discipline, but no suspensions will be coming. Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson and Quinton Jefferson were all flagged for personal fouls. Jefferson and Richardson were both ejected, and all three should face hefty fines for their involvement in the ugly conclusion. Jefferson attempted to climb into the stands after fans threw what appeared to be bottles at him as he was leaving the field. He was pulled back by team staff.
The Jaguars issued a statement Monday stating they were reviewing video and were conducting interviews with spectators and security staff in the area to identify those involved. The Jaguars said those involved may lose the right to purchase future tickets or have their season tickets revoked.
JETS: New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown will miss the team’s final three games with a broken left hand that will require surgery.
Coach Todd Bowles also announced that Bryce Petty will start in McCown’s place for New York at New Orleans on Sunday. Second-year quarterback Christian Hackenberg remains behind Petty on the depth chart.
McCown was injured when he was hit by Denver’s Shane Ray in the third quarter of New York’s 23-0 loss on Sunday.
GIANTS: The New York Giants are sticking with Eli Manning.
A day after saying he wasn’t sure who would start against the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles, interim coach Steve Spagnuolo on Monday left no doubt that the two-time Super Bowl MVP would be his quarterback Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
CARDINALS: Starting left tackle Jared Veldheer has a cracked ankle and will go on injured reserve, Arizona coach Bruce Arians said.
Veldheer was injured in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 12-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Arians also said starting right guard Earl Watford has a high ankle sprain and will miss some time.